FC Copenhagen Women have a ‘startup-like’ brand. Now they need results

‘Around 80-90% of the girls have never played in the top league so it’s a challenge.’ FC Copenhagen Women huddle before their match against Brøndby earlier this month. Photograph: Freja Borne

On an August day in 2024, 5,165 fans gathered at Vanløse Idrætspark to watch FC Copenhagen (FCK) take on B73 Slagelse in their first league match. For Denmark’s most successful men’s club, with 16 league titles, it marked the realisation of their desire to establish a women’s team, through collaboration with the existing FC Damsø, and an ambitious project with aims of having a wide-reaching impact on and off the pitch.

The 26 months since have brought a whirlwind of success, the club securing back-to-back promotions to reach the A-Liga. Now they are in the top division and “playing with the big dogs”, as their head of women’s football, Romaney Pinnock, coins it, and they must adapt to stay there.